Just Going With The Flow

Nuevos amigos

The past few days have been absolutely wonderful! So on Thursday night, we decided to go out and view the night life some. We ended up going to this street full of bars that had almost all Spaniards there, and we hung out there for a while, which is where we met two boys named Gabriel and Enrique. We stayed at the bar with them until the bar closed down (I know my friends at home are amazed that I am capable of staying out past 1. When in Seville, right?) and then we went to the same discoteca that we went to the first night. There were a lot more spanish people there than the first time and I had an absolute blast. We all danced and danced until finally we were too tired to dance anymore. Then we decided to walk 45 minutes back to our houses. Lots and lots of walking here, but that is ok, because we need exercise, right?
Then on Friday, we got to sleep in, thank goodness, and then we went and enrolled in all of our classes. Fortunately, I got in to all of the classes I needed! Success! It is probably hard to believe, but I did not feel like doing anything that night, so I just went home and stayed in and rested.

Gardens of Alcazar

Palace in Alcazar

On Saturday, we took a trip to this place called Alcázar, which is a series of palaces and gardens right in the heart of Seville. The palaces were built for the Christian kings, but they were built by Muslim architects, so they have this awesome architecture that is very Islamic. The palace was massive because every time a new king would come in to power, he would have another palace built to connect to the current one. Isabel and Ferdinand lived there and it was so cool to think about how I was walking where they had and to see the room where they decided that Christopher Columbus could travel to America and all of that. It is kind of hard to wrap your mind around that thought too. The gardens were also so beautiful, they were full of orange and lemon trees and peacocks! Apparently it was really common for Muslims to put peacocks in their palaces and they have just stayed there! After lunch on Saturday, a group of us went to a place called Torre del Oro, which is now a naval museum, but used to be the main entry point for the port of Seville. We climbed all the way to the top and you could see across the river and the entire city on our side of the river. Then we went to this cute cafe and had ice cream before our late dinner. It truly was a perfect day. After dinner we all went out to the other side of the river to a more American part of town. We stayed in a bar and just chatted and laughed and had a very calm peaceful time, unlike most of the other bars. I will say though that I do enjoy the bars where there are more Spaniards than Americans. It just feels more real when you are surrounded by Sevillanos, as opposed to feeling like you are in America because there are so many Americans there.

View from Torre del Oro

Today, I woke up late and had a very relaxing morning. Then a few of us decided to go to this park called Parque Maria Louisa. It is right next to the Plaza de España, which for those of you who don't know, that is where they shot the movie Star Wars Attack of the Clones... I think. One of the Star Wars movies at least. It was so beautiful and big and it has the only grass that I have seen so far in this city! We relaxed in the sun and talked and I ran for a bit and it was wonderful. Then we went to the same place for more ice cream only I got a waffle with chocolate ice cream and chocolate syrup (fat American, right?) and I swear it was one of the most delicious things I have ever had. Obviously I can't have that all the time, but I think that will definitely become a treat!




I really do love it here, but there has been quite a bit of culture shock. In America, we are all about being busy and getting our work done and if we slack off we feel kind of bad about it. Here, that is not the case. Pretty much all of the shops close from about 2-5 in the afternoon so everyone can take a break and have a nice long lunch and such. Then they come back to work until about 9 at night. You will never see a to-go cup of coffee in someone's hand walking down the street, because everyone stays at the cafe to sit and talk and enjoy their coffee. It is so different, and it takes a while to get used to. No one is ever in a rush to do anything and many times, people will be late to meet with friends and it is no big deal. I'm starting to get used to it, and I really do like the attitude. I just worry about when I come back and no one else has the same attitude as I do... Then we may run in to problems. I guess I can deal with that four months from now!

Primeras Aventuras

I have finally moved in with my homestay!!!! And my señora is awesome to say the least. She is very young and has a little girl who is three years old. The little girl is precious and loves princesses and understands English surprisingly well. The apartment is kind of small, but I'm not really here that often so it is ok.

Church we found while lost!

I am continuing to love the city. It is so cool and diverse. There are several different barrios, kind of like the different parts of Manhattan. And each one is completely distinct and beautiful. The people here are also great. Obviously it is easy to tell who is an American here (I know it is hard to believe, considering how tan I am), but everyone is super nice and helpful whenever we need something or get lost. Which is a lot. But it's ok because we get to see more of the city this way!
As my readers, I am sure that you have been asking yourselves, "So what have you been up to, Brianna?" Well I will tell you, because a lot has happened since my last entry. On Tuesday night, we went out for tapas and they were incredible. There is this dish called Patatas Bravadas (at least I think that is what it is called) and it is potatoes with this delicious red sauce. But everything here is good, at least that I have tried. The most different thing that I have noticed here is when they eat and what they eat. For example, the Spaniards wake up and eat a light breakfast, like a piece of toast or something. Then around 11 in the morning, they have a coffee and a tostada, which is like toast with cheese or ham. Then around 2, they have a huge meal for lunch, usually at least three courses. Around 6, they have what is called a merienda, which is a snack that can be anything. Finally, around 9:30 or 10 pm, they have dinner and it is very small, like tapas. Yesterday I made the mistake of not taking a merienda and I thought I was going to fall over because I was so hungry by 10:30. But I digress... After tapas, the entire group went out to a bar, and for those of you who don't know, that is legal here! Woo! It was very fun and the beer here is very good. Then we went to a club that was having a welcome party for all the study abroad kids. Touristy, right? Well it was super fun, so quit judging. After the club we wandered down to the river and it was so beautiful at night.

Flamenco dancers/singers

Yesterday, we had a lot of information sessions because classes haven't started yet. I also met my host family, whom I have already talked about. There are two of us Americans in the house, so I have to sleep in the daughter's room. When she came in from school yesterday and I was here she came running into her room and saw me and say "Ay mi cuarto!!!!". She got over me being here... I think.

And who says all that wander are lost?

After we hung out at home for a bit, we went to a Flamenco show. That was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Their feet move so incredibly fast that I don't know how they do it. I am already rhythmically challenged, so it would be impossible for me, but it was still pretty amazing.


Today we had more information sessions and we learned about the practicum we will be doing in the schools here. It sounds really cool and I am so excited about doing it here! We got lost in the Centro, for probably about the fifth time, but that's ok. It was a very good adventure. Then we had to buy phones, which I am still unsure as to how it all works, but I like to think I am a smart girl and that I can figure it out.
As always, I miss everyone at home, but life here is very fun too!

Just Flew In... And Boy Are My Arms Tired...

Seville Airport!

I'm finally in Seville! After months and months of preparation and years of dreaming of being here, this does not seem quite real yet. The journey over here was quite interesting and the jet lag is definitely clouding my thought process at this point, but who am I to complain? I'm in a beautiful city that is free of cold and snow. :)
Anyways, the trip was long but good. I started out in Lexington and saying goodbye to the fam was no fun, but I will be back soon. Then I got to Chicago, where nearly the entire flight was full of kids who were studying abroad. It was really neat to see how many people get this opportunity. But the thing that stuck out most to me was that half of them went to the same school, but they had never met each other! I guess I am not familiar enough with large-school culture, because the idea of me meeting someone my age in the airport and saying "Oh, you go to Transy too??" was completely foreign to me. Oh the life of a private liberal arts school kid... Anyways, the flight from Chicago to Madrid was a good one, except for the fact that I could not fall asleep to save my life. I sat next to a Spanish man who was really nice and fortunately did not want to talk the entire time. He did snore though, however it really had no effect on me since I couldn't sleep anyways. Due to the sleep deprivation, I did something that I hadn't done in a very long time- finish an entire book. OH MY GOODNESS. If you have not read the Hunger Games, go do it right now. Stop reading this and read that. SO good. After I got off that flight, I hung out in the Madrid airport for a little while, which is super cool. It's very modern and the roof is shaped like a mustache. Whether that is on purpose or not, I'm not quite sure, but it looks cool. I met some even more cool people while I was waiting for my flight to Seville!
Seville is awesome. There are palm trees everywhere and the skies were just clearing up from the rain. Everyone here is super friendly and genuine and it's great. The people in my program seem really fun too, so I think they will be a great group to spend my time here with. :)
I miss everyone at home terribly, but I know the home sickness will pass here soon! I can't wait to start in on the actual adventures tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Only eight more days until I say "Adios" to the U.S. and "Hola" to Spain! Obviously, this is super exciting and I cannot wait. However, at the same time, it is slightly nerve wracking because I am going to be gone for so long and I have to say good bye to everyone. This next week is going to be filled with packing, so-longing, celebrating, and general frenzying. But that is okay, because I know I am setting out on an awesome adventure. (Let's just hope I survive. Mom seems to think it might not be likely). So if you are reading this, be sure you catch me before next Sunday, because I am sure I will want to say see you later! Catch ya on the flip side! By flip side, I mean four months from now! :)

...And if you are interested, keep reading this blog, because I will be updating it throughout my trip with my many excursions and adventures!

I Am Thankful For...

In honor of Thanksgiving, I am writing a list of what I am thankful for. Partly because I want to write, but not necessarily in complete sentences, and partly because I have a lot to be thankful for and a list is most effective. Here are the top 10 (in no particular order) -

Awesome friends

Classic Hill Family Photo

1) Crazy family. My family is ridiculous and I love it. For example, my sister and I taught our dad how to Bernie tonight. Awesome, right?
2) Great friends. I do not know what I would do without my friends. They make sure I keep my sense of humor and stay focused on what really matters in my life.
3) A warm bed. I'm currently sitting in one of the most comfortable beds of all time. I'm thankful.
4) Wonderful boyfriend. I won't elaborate because I've talked to much about him recently.
5) FOOD. Today has been filled with awesome food and tomorrow will be too. Sophomore 30 here I come.
6) Christmas movies! Love Actually is one of my favorite movies of all time and it always restores my faith in humanity. Dramatic? I think not. Elf, Christmas Family Vacation, and Charlie Brown are also good ones.
7) No school. It is so nice to have some time to relax and do stuff that I actually want to do.
8) My health and the health of my loved ones. While not all of those around me are completely healthy, the majority are and those who aren't are recovering.
9) The opportunity to go to Spain! I leave in less than 2 months and it does not seem real yet!

10) God and my faith. He takes care of me, even when I do not deserve it.

Cheers to the Weekend

The week is finally over. I could not be happier about it. Not that this week was particularly difficult comparatively, it's just nice to finally be able to breathe this weekend because there are no major projects or tests or papers due next week. Oh the life of a liberal arts student...

One of the precious boys!

Not only is it the weekend, it's a BIG weekend. Tonight, I get to see the new Twilight movie. Say what you will about Twilight, but the hopeless angsty teen romantic inside of me can't help but love these movies. I like to think that I do a decent job of hiding it, but who really knows how well I do. Tomorrow, my sorority is hosting a silent auction and dinner for our philanthropy, Make A Wish. This is actually one of my favorite events that we do because everyone's family comes in and we all dress up and sell off donations that we have worked our butts off to get from local businesses. I am particularly excited because my step mom and brothers are coming three whole hours just to go to the auction and I cannot wait to see them. It's been too long and those boys are just too precious for me to not be excited to see all of them.

Formal time!

THEN, after the auction, my boyfriend's fraternity is having their winter formal! I'm not usually one to get dressed up, but since I already will be from the auction, it's not much more of a hassle. Plus it is always fun to dance and see all of your friends out of jeans and sweat pants and in cocktail dresses and sport coats. Now, I am a very bad dancer. There is little to no rhythm within my body and yet at formals I really do not care. I let loose and I have an absolute blast, even if I do accidentally head butt someone (sorry, Alex).

On Sunday it is our church's annual Thanksgiving dinner. Almost the entire church turns out for this because the food is SO good. It is like a preliminary Thanksgiving celebration, but it also helps to remind me what exactly I have to be thankful for. God, friends, family, and the fact that I am completely taken care of. That is the main reason I like this dinner. Not for the awesome food, or for seeing people that I haven't seen in a while, but because it is a good way to refocus right before all of the holidays so that I remember why we celebrate all of them.


So here is to one awesome weekend, hopefully. The school year is winding down and now it is time to start thinking about what is really important in life, which if you read my last post, is what I have been trying to do lately. Also, for those few of you who are reading on a regular basis, I got a 73 on that Islam test, which is an average C. And I intend to celebrate this weekend, for everything I have. I am even going to celebrate for that test, because who says you can't celebrate mediocrity?

Let's Get Real

So I'm sitting in a group study session right now, trying to avoid studying the religion of Islam by any means possible. What better way than to blog, right?

But seriously, I have spent the entire last week and a half stressing about this test. It is a class in which I have no background or experience with the subject and the amount of information is so vast that it is incredibly overwhelming. I start to look at the material and I just freeze because I do not know where to start. Tears have been shed over this test already. Obviously that is a ridiculous thing to do, so once I stopped crying, I thought to myself, why is this test so important. I do need to keep my GPA up, but if I do badly on one test is it going to screw me for the rest of my life? Is getting an A in Islamic Religious Traditions really going to make my life complete?

Aren't we precious?

This coming Sunday is my one year anniversary with an awesome boyfriend. A year is a big deal for me. I haven't ever been with anyone for more than a few months and I always did the leaving. But he makes me want to stay, which is an incredible thing. He makes me laugh and supports me in everything I do and I don't know what I would do without him at this point. I was even invited to his family's Thanksgiving celebration, so you know it's serious now.

There is also a lot of really big holidays coming up that I cannot wait for! Thanksgiving is honestly one of my favorite holidays because there is good food and really good company. I stay with my dad and my family in Knoxville who I do not see very often and it makes me so happy. We always have a feast and have a five hour family get together where everyone laughs and catches up. I love my family so much because we are the kind of family who never misses a beat when we haven't seen each other for a while. We make each other laugh until we cry and make fun of each other the majority of the time. Some of my best memories come from family gatherings and I hope they are a tradition we continue long into the future.

Casual family photo

Now back to the questions from the beginning, does my Islamic test really matter in the long run? Yes, it would be nice to pass this exam and not have the shame of an F put on me, but that's not what is important. I have an entire future ahead of me where this class will be completely irrelevant. I have friends and family who I will be spending the rest of my life with whether I get an A+ or a D- on this test. I have a boyfriend who loves me and doesn't care if I know who the caliph was in 745 or which sect of Shi'a still has an Imam, and that's what really matters in life. Funny how it takes a minor breakdown to start to think about that. And it will probably take many more breakdowns throughout my life to continue to remind me of what is important.

p.s. happy one year, sweet boy.